Inside Abu Dhabi's Thriving Artificial Intelligence Scene

As the United Arab Emirates (UAE) continues to transition from an oil-based economy to a more knowledge-based economy, artificial intelligence is expected to become one of the country's key sectors. The World Economic Forum estimates that artificial intelligence will add nearly $16 trillion to the global economy by 2030. The country's capital city boasts a burgeoning startup community, advanced machine-learning research facilities, and world-class educational institutions like the Khalifa University of Science and Technology (KU) and the Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI). "These institutions help anchor Abu Dhabi's world-class AI ecosystem," said Dr. Ernesto Damiani, professor and senior director of Khalifa University's Robotics and Intelligent Systems Institute. "The ecosystem is also composed of several large companies that are invested in developing AI applications across a variety of verticals, from healthcare to energy."